The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1887-03-05

mother sat. The thought was forced upon
her, whether through the year just opened
she should strive to keep together
her husbands home comforts; or whether
she must not relinquish all, and thus
confess that she hoped no more for his
return. She had almost forgotten Uncle
Charlie, when she caught glimpse of
his familiar face.
81 knew he would GOMEZ knew he would
comep' shouted little George, and before
boy was tugging at the latch. We need not
describe with what joy Uncle Charlie was
welcomed, or how before his pleasant smile
pleasant though sad, for he could feel
the gloomy thoughts of Mrs. Merrill gave
her respite. Wonderful were the stores of
Charles pockets for his little nephew.
Deep was the blush with which Mrs. Mer-
rill received q sealed envelope which Uncle
Charlie babe her to put in her pocket and to
hold her peace
Charles, you are robbing Yourself"
'.Me! and l q bachelor, without wife, or
chick, or child. Beside, it's all charged,
and will be paid when your husband comes
home"
Mrs Merrill sadly shook her head Uncle
Charlie knew her forebodings. Perhaps he
shared them. But Uncle Charlie was always
a child. In the darkest day he could see
sunlight. II he had been broker he could
have carried the most forlorn stock and,
when forced to give away, drop his load and
rejoice that he was released from a burthen.
The mans confidence was as adamant and
his spirits as perennial fountain. He was
determined to believe that his brother
would return, and if the absentee never
came back, so much the more was he bound
to keep up for the happiness of his widow
and child.
NWhy, Uncle Charlier' said George, as
he surveyed his presents, ''you did not
bring me one bookl''
mo more l did," said Uncle Charlie.
are man, and you shall be a lawyer like
me. You might look at Jack the Giant
Killer which gave you last year, IL you
had not torn it al to piecesr
30, haven't, you naughty uncle" said
the child, as he produced in triumph the
well-kept classic
ssBy the way, sister, said Uncle Charlie,
whose thoughts now reverted to his morn
ing's adventure, Il want you to shock all
the proprieties, and brighten Mrs. Grundy
out of her wits this afternoon"
Little Geordie looked up, wondering what
kind Of a New Years game this might por-
tend.
81 met little witch this morning"
Geordie's eyes were ready to burst from
his head, and his mother divided her smiles
between the lively uncle and the astonished
nephew; .., .,,a 90. nth
ANU WISH you u cau anu sec nor Will
me-"
40, / should so like to see witch!'
cried Geordie. 'sIs it in the menageriew
'sNever you mind, Geordie. You'll see
the witch soon enough" af
Mrs Merrill was not hard to persuade to
accompany her brother. She was accus-
toned to his cratic movements, and never
thwarted them; for whatever conventional
rules might be laughingly broken, the man
was always right, for his heart was kind,
and his head was sound. So little Geordie
was left, with Jack the Giant Killer, in
charge of the house, and Uncle Charlie took
his sister with him to keep his appointment
with the little enigma and her mother.
We need not go with him on his second
call, for the result of the interview will de-
velop itself. When Uncle Charlie and his
sister returned a new tableau met their
eyes in the parlor. A stranger, with huge
mustache and beard to give an upholsterer
an outfit, was sitting in the best and coolest
chair; and Geordie, on the strangers knees,
was comparing his hirsute visage with that
Of Jack Of high renown. Uncle Charlie
stopped second at the door. Mrs. Merrill
rushed past him, with q scream of delight,
and in a moment more Geordie was rolling
on the carpet, with the force Of the concus-
sion; Mrs. Merrilrs head was lost in the
forest on the strangers face, and Uncle
Charlie was giving three cheers and q
tiger. In this little Geordie vocifer-
ously joined, while he rubbed his
knees; concluding, like sensible boy,
that to shout was better than to whine.
All forthwith began to talk at once, and
we can not undertake to tell half they said.
OF chief interest to our tale Is the expfa-
nation which Mrs. Merrill gave of her
absence; how she went to see Mrs. Oliver,
whose husband went to California
sAnd died there, {" interrupted Mr.. Merrill.
''She knows that, poor SOUL" SAID Uncle
Charlie.
"But she don't know said Mr. Merrill,
'sthat her husband left her $50 00 He was
my partner. and we were very fortunate.
wish he could have lived to return with me.
But he died full Of love for his wife and
child, and charged me with many messages
to them. closed his eyes; and from that
day set my face homeward."
aWhy did you not writer
$50 did, dozen times. But where is
Charles fed! have not so much as shaken
hands with him yet"
81 guess he's gone to see thewitch, cried
little Geordie.
'sOr the witch's mother,n said Mrs. Mer-
rill.
Uncle Charles soon returned, and con-
fessed the fact that he thought it his duty
to break the intelligence to the widow. And
his duty has been very much blended with
hers ever since. Her fortune she settled
upon Edith-her hand, at the proper time,
she gave to Uncle Charlie, and she never
has said, since that New Years morning,
that she had not a friend in the world.
III.
lam putting the finishing words to my
narrative on this 3fst day Of December, A.
d. 1S-. / am sitting in my husbands
s'den," as he persists in calling the most
inviting room in the house, especially invit-
ing to me when he is in it. / sometimes
enter when he is away; but confess that
then the dead smell Of tobacco smoke is not
80 agreeable. j would, in his absence, put
his room in order, and have once or twice
attempted it, but have received any thing
but thanks for my ofilcious service. 1 am
or rather was--little Edith. Another little
Edith is just now gone to bed, and the four
corners of her crib are hung with stock
ings. The grand New Years demonstra-
tion is, however, in the back parior, the
second edition of huge Christmas tree.
George (no longer little Geordie) will spoil
the child and tell him so.
Georges father and mother and my father
and mother flor Uncle Charlie is father
now, will dine with us tomorrow We
diued with him on Christmas day az we